NEWS, VIEWS & OTHER INTERESTING THINGS

Falken a former model, Miss SA finalist and recent winner of the 2012 MTN Radio Award for the best commercial radio station Daytime Presenter, now joins the likes of author Zakes Mda to actively promote the importance of reading and equipping children with a love for this life-long skill.

The partnership with Falken is a perfect fit, as she is passionate about literacy and believes that children should be taught the importance of reading from an early age. “I believe that giving children the gift of exploring and discovering the written word is equal to giving them the thumbs up to imagine and dream. In that spirit, it is an honour for me to be part of this programme.” Living this example, Falken and her four-year old daughter read together before bedtime every night.

Our latest ambassador is also an avid blogger and columnist who is currently also doing an MBA through the University of Cape Town. Apart from her partnership with help2read, Falken is driven by going good. She is a goodwill ambassador for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Wellness SA. She has also embarked on a relationship with WWF South Africa, working with them on their planet-saving initiatives.

To get to know our new ambassador a little better we’ve compiled a little Q&A for her:

help2read: How did you get to love reading as much as you do?

Saskia: Growing up, my grandfather had a bookshelf behind his bedroom door and whenever we complained about being bored we would be told to go grab a book from the old, dusty and mysterious shelf. Then my mom also worked for various publishers so we always had a huge variety of books at our disposal. I love that books allow you to escape to unknown lands, meet unknown people and experience life without ever having to leave your bedroom.

help2read: What was your favourite book as a child?

Saskia: It would have to be “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott.  I had a little paperback copy that I read over and over and over again. As an only child, it gave me a window into being a part of a big family and having sisters that would be at your side through thick and thin.

help2read: What do you enjoy reading now and do you have an all time favourite book?

Saskia: I have a weakness for self-help books *blush*, so I have many on my bookshelf.  At the moment I’m very interested in forgiveness the vulnerability that one needs to go there so I’m reading a very interesting read by Shame Researcher Brene Brown called “The gifts of imperfection”. My all time favourite book is a novel though – I read it when I was a teen and it still rates the most powerful books on my list of must-reads, it’s “The Colour Purple” by Alice Walker.

help2read:  What author would you most like to meet dead or alive?

Saskia: I haven’t really given this much thought because I always think of the authors as a conduit for the story and it’s really the story that captures my imagination and thoughts most, but I do believe a conversation with Anjie Krog would make for a fascinating and interesting conversation.

help2read:  Would you ever consider writing a book and what would you title it?

Saskia: Sjoe, I’d have to give this some thought.